The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

~KATALEYA ~

“F*****g come again?" Dad growls, making my heart hammer for an entirely different reason.

I glance up and spot Dad, Mama, Royce, Leo and Prince Mikhail walking towards the table. But it's Dad's glimmering eyes that make me swallow hard as Enrique leans back in his seat, unbothered. And he does not remove his hand from my wrist as he looks at Dad "You really don't want to do this now, Lycan," Enrique says arrogantly, with a small smirk.

challengingly.

"What did you just call her?" Dad asks as the Russian prince sits down, amusement clear on his face as Sky hugs her mate.

"Mi Amor. Do you want me to say it louder?"

"Are you mocking me?" Dad asks icily, turning his irritated glare to the Russians. "Mind taking the front table?"

"No thanks, I am enjoying the show," Mikhail says as he picks up the bottle of untouched wine in the centre of the table.

"Alejandro..." Mama murmurs softly.

"Not now, Amore Mio," Dad warns.

"Dad, please. Enrique, come with me," I whisper, pulling him from his seat with all my might, satisfied when he has no option but to follow me when I manage to get him off his seat. But Dad, Mama, and Sky are also hot on our heels.

Azura watches worriedly, but Leo needs her, so she remains sitting and I cast a small smile her way, mouthing that it's going to be ok.

"Dad, don't be extra," Skyla mutters as I exit the hall, speeding up, wanting to get away before Dad catches up and things get messy. Maybe I shouldn't have left! Things would have been calmer in front of people!

It's too late now. I'm out of the hall and heading to the exit.

I let out a frustrated sigh when I step out into the night, despite the lovely cool air.

"Were you fucking mocking me? Answer me!" Dad snarls.

"How? By touching her, or is your pathetic issue with what I called her?" Enrique asks, a mocking smirk that is only angering Dad further plastered on his handsome face.

"Both, but don't go fucking calling her Mi Amor again," Dad threatens.

"Why not? You call your woman Amore Mio, it's pretty similar."

"Exactly, and since you two are not fucking mates, it's an insult."

"Dad, that's harsh," Skyla says coldly.

"It's fucking facts."

"I can call her whatever I wish. Don't be fucking petty... Besides, Mi Amor is pretty common where I'm from. However, you might be Italian by ethnicity, but you are a f*****g British through and through. You should stick to love, or darling, or whatever shit you use there. Tell me, Lycan, do you know how to say anything more than Amore Mio in Italian?"

My mouth falls open, my eyes wide in horror.

Oh my...

Did he just...

Mock dad?

Skyla's staring, her jaw practically on the floor before she cackles, slapping Dad hard on the back.

"Best comeback ever!"

For a moment, Dad simply stares at him. The tension is so high until Mama giggles. "Alejandro, he sounds just like you," she whispers.

"He f*****g doesn't!" Dad growls.

"I fucking don't," Enrique scoffs simultaneously.

Mama smiles. "My father also didn't like Alejandro, and he always teased and taunted him," she says before she kisses Dad's cheek and turns to Enrique.

"No need to tell him that shit," Dad says coldly, but Mama ignores him.

"Call her whatever you like. She is a grown woman. You are both adults capable of making your own decisions," she says as she steps closer to Enrique and smiles softly, her large eyes glittering with unshed tears.

"You grew up beautifully," she murmurs, cupping his face. A glimmer of worry fills me, wondering if he'll push Mama away, but he doesn't. His face is emotionless.

"I guess I did," he says before he removes her hands from his face and looks at me, then his gaze flicks to Dad and a devilish smirk crosses his lips. "So did your daughter. Do forgive me, but she exceeds even you in beauty and compassion." "That's my fucking daughter-"

"Yes, perhaps if she looks like you, I would not be so... appreciative of her beauty."

Oh, this naughty boy is taunting Dad now.

I walk over to Dad, who looks like a steaming pot of water that is about to explode.

"Dad, he's only teasing you," I say, gently hugging him tightly. His words from inside the hall return and I close my eyes, inhaling his scent.

Why am I scared for you Dad?

Dad grumbles. "It's only f*****g funny when it's towards someone else. This fucker annoys me."

"Karma sure exists," Sky remarks before she walks over to Enrique. "You look and behave more like a Rossi than Kat. Guess it's just f*****g meant to be... so tell me, Chocolate Curls, how much do you want to bet me that you and Kat will end up being fated mates? How about five hundred?"

"We will not be. And for your sister's sake, you should pray that it never comes to that. So, excuse me, I think I need a fucking smoke," Enrique says, making me look at him, but he is not looking at me. Why not?

It would be a dream come true...

"I think I fucking need one, too," Dad mutters, taking a packet out of his pocket as he kisses the top of my head. "I thought you disliked me smoking. Ain't this shit double standards?"

"I don't like it, but I still love you both," I whisper before I quickly rush over to Mama and Sky as Dad takes a second to process what I just said.

'You fucking don't love him!' Dad says through the mind-link.

'I always have and I still do. Going there didn't change that,' I reply earnestly, as Dad offers Enrique a cigarette distractedly. Enrique hesitates before he accepts it, his eyes fixed on me. I smile softly, hoping that somehow, he'll stop shutting us out... Dad's frown deepens as he looks at Enrique thoughtfully. Meanwhile, Enrique is still watching me, before he sighs. "How about you girls head inside and me and this fucker have a word?" Dad suggests.

'Will you be nice? For me?' I ask worriedly through the mind-link. 'He needs us, Dad. He needs to know he's worth so much more. That he isn't all alone.'

He looks at me, our dark eyes meeting as mine tear up. 'Please, Papa...

His gaze softens. 'I'll try.'

I smile. That is enough for me because I know my dad. He is a good person, no matter how grumpy he acts.

He sighs as he turns his attention to Enrique, who has already lit his cigarette and is smoking.

Dad frowns at him. "So shall we?"

"Sure, if you promise not to be a cabrón."

"The f**k is that?"

"A fucker," Enrique remarks helpfully, or maybe it's not helpful?

He turns and continues down the garden without waiting for Dad. Dad gives us a look before he follows him, lighting his own cigarette.

Mama smiles as she wraps her arms around me and Skyla. "I think they're going to be ok. And I missed my angels," she says, kissing Skyla's cheek and then mine. "Come on, let's go inside, see how Zu is doing and have a girly catch-up." "I like the sound of all of that," Skyla muses.

She's been in Alaska for a while since this whole summit needed planning. Mama really must have felt it knowing both of us were so far away.

"I missed you too, Mama," I say softly, resting my head against hers. "So how is Alessandra?"

"She was happy to have the house to herself, although of course she has someone keeping an eye on her. She was excited for us all to leave." Mama smiles.

"That is so Alessandra" Sky snickers. "I want to go back just to annoy her a little. Is she still wiping cans before drinking from them?"

"Oh yes. Those things don't change," Mama answers.

"Well, that's the best part about us. We are all different," I say smiling across at Skyla as we step back into the hall where everyone is talking. There are several conversations going on about the situation in Russia. And many others about Dad stepping down, which has caused a buzz.

Leo looks ok, but only Azura would really know how he's feeling. He's sitting there talking to Royce and, surprisingly, the Russian Prince too. The princess is quiet as she looks around at the others.

I walk over to Leo first and take his hand. "You will be a great king," I say softly, giving it a gentle squeeze. There's no point in congratulating him when it is not a position he ever wanted.

Mama sits beside the princess, whilst me and Sky take our original seats and I try to pay attention to the conversation at the table, although I'm on edge thinking about what Dad and Enrique might be talking about...